After a six month hiatus, I restarted chemotherapy today and am now on my fifth of six treatment rounds. If all goes well I’ll be out of the hospital just in time to celebrate the new year by going to sleep in my own bed before midnight while you animals are out partying as we pass into 2023.

The past few months of slow recovery from the foot reconstruction, flap surgery, and a few minor clean up procedures finally reached a point in early December where the doctors felt comfortable completing the chemotherapy regimen. The external fixture, basically a metal cage attached to my shin, protected the foot and flap site for about nine weeks until it was removed just before Thanksgiving. Very glad to be out of that and didn’t have to resort to removing it at home.

Overall I’m feeling good and I’ve participated in much of our normal life since October. My foot seems to be doing well- I can wiggle my toes along with good range of motion in my ankle- and I’m hopeful that physical therapy will begin in late January after the final chemo treatment. 

We’re expecting three surgeries sometime this spring, beginning about eight weeks after finishing chemotherapy. There will be two procedures on the flap to reduce its current size- one resident said it looked like a meat biscuit attached to the back of my foot. He was probably sleep deprived. Having a smaller flap allows me to wear shoes again, definitely not an option now. Then, finally, they’ll remove the four screws in my foot. 

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and help, it means so much to us.